Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Sunday, October 12, 2025, took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to share a satirical article titled “Sarcastic Sunday: Tinubu’s Amnesty — But Who Will Pardon the President? (Part 1)” written by Mohammed Bello Doka.
The lengthy write-up, which El-Rufai reposted without commentary, quickly drew widespread reactions online due to its sharp critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent amnesty decision and its broader commentary on Nigeria’s socio-political situation.
In the piece, Doka used heavy satire to dissect the government’s controversial pardon of convicted individuals, including drug offenders, financial criminals, and even a woman accused of murder. He described Tinubu’s action as turning Nigeria into “The Federal Republic of Forgiveness, Unlimited.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has opened the gates of mercy wide enough to let even the devil stroll through with a presidential handshake,” the article began, adding that the president’s decision “has made repentance obsolete — all one needs now is a presidential signature.”
The satirist drew parallels between the pardons and past allegations linking Tinubu to a U.S. drug-related forfeiture case, remarking that “pardoning drug dealers feels less like compassion and more like a class reunion of the cartel alumni association.”
Doka further mocked the government’s justification that the amnesty was meant to decongest prisons, arguing that Nigeria’s correctional facilities are filled with “small thieves and unlucky youths,” while “VIP ex-convicts” now walk free, potentially to be recycled into political appointments.
Beyond the political jabs, the article delved into the state of the economy, lamenting that inflation had risen to 24.23 percent and that the naira had fallen to ₦1,600 per U.S. dollar. Doka calculated that the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage now equals just $43.75 per month — “making Nigerian workers poorer than the World Bank’s global poverty line.”
The satire also highlighted rising insecurity across the country, with Doka quipping that “banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism have become part of our national anthem.”
He concluded with biting irony: “Maybe they’re freeing the bandits so they can come back and register for next year’s empowerment programmes.”
El-Rufai’s decision to share the piece without any personal comment sparked mixed reactions online. Some users praised his subtlety and courage for amplifying critical perspectives, while others accused him of indirectly endorsing attacks on the Tinubu administration.
The post has since gone viral, reigniting debates about government accountability, selective justice, and the limits of political satire in Nigeria’s democratic space. See, More, Here>>>>
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